Two-year Skeletal Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy in Adolescents with Obesity Assessed with Quantitative CT and MR Spectroscopy.

Background Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is effective in the treatment of cardiometabolic complications of obesity but is associated with bone loss. Purpose To determine the long-term effects of SG on vertebral bone strength, density, and bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) in adolescents and young adults with obesity. Materials and Methods This 2-year prospective nonrandomized longitudinal study enrolled adolescents and young adults with obesity who underwent either SG (SG group) or dietary and exercise counseling without surgery (control group) at an academic medical center from 2015 to 2020. Participants underwent quantitative CT of the lumbar spine (L1 and L2 levels) to assess bone density and strength, proton MR spectroscopy to assess BMAT (L1 and L2 levels), and MRI of the abdomen and thigh to assess body composition. Student t and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare 24-month changes between and within groups. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between body composition, vertebral bone density, strength, and BMAT. Results A total of 25 participants underwent SG (mean age, 18 years ± 2 [SD], 20 female), and 29 underwent dietary and exercise counseling without surgery (mean age, 18 years ± 3, 21 female). Body mass index (BMI) decreased by a mean of 11.9 kg/m2 ± 5.21 [SD] after 24 months in the SG group (P < .001), while it increased in the control group (mean increase, 1.49 kg/m2 ± 3.10; P = .02). Mean bone strength of the lumbar spine decreased after surgery compared with that in control subjects (mean decrease, -728 N ± 691 vs -7.24 N ± 775; P < .001). BMAT of the lumbar spine increased after SG (mean lipid-to-water ratio increase, 0.10 ± 0.13; P = .001). Changes in vertebral density and strength correlated positively with changes in BMI and body composition (R = 0.34 to R = 0.65, P = .02 to P < .001) and inversely with vertebral BMAT (R = -0.33 to R = -0.47, P = .03 to P = .001). Conclusion SG in adolescents and young adults reduced vertebral bone strength and density and increased BMAT compared with those in control participants. Clinical trial registration no. NCT02557438 © RSNA, 2023 See also the editorial by Link and Schafer in this issue.

Pediatric Endocrinology Milestones 2.0-guide to their implementation.

The Milestones were initiated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to provide a framework for monitoring a trainee's progression throughout residency/fellowship. The Milestones describe stepwise skill progression through six core domains of clinical competency: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Practice-based Learning and Improvement, Professionalism, and Systems-based Practice. Since their introduction in 2013, several barriers to implementation have emerged. Thus, the ACGME launched the Milestones 2.0 project to develop updated specialty-specific milestones. The Pediatric Endocrinology Milestones 2.0 project aimed to improve upon Milestones 1.0 by addressing common limitations, providing resources for faculty to easily incorporate milestones into their assessment of trainees, and adding sub-competencies in health disparities, patient safety, and physician well-being.This paper reviews the development of the Pediatric Endocrinology Milestones 2.0 including the major changes from Milestones 1.0, development of the Supplemental Guide, and how Milestones 2.0 can be applied at the program level. Although use of the Milestones are required only for ACGME programs, the tools provided in Milestones 2.0 are applicable to fellowship programs worldwide.

Serum Oxytocin Levels Decrease 12 Months Following Sleeve Gastrectomy and Are Associated with Decreases in Lean Mass.

Oxytocin (OXT), an anorexigenic hormone, is also bone anabolic. Further, OXT administration results in increases in lean mass (LM) in adults with sarcopenic obesity. We examine, for the first time, associations of OXT with body composition and bone endpoints in 25 youth 13-25 years old with severe obesity who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and 27 non-surgical controls (NS). Forty participants were female. Subjects underwent fasting blood tests for serum OXT and DXA for areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and body composition. At baseline, SG vs. NS had higher median body mass index (BMI) but did not differ for age or OXT levels. Over 12 months, SG vs. NS had greater reductions in BMI, LM, and fat mass (FM). OXT decreased in SG vs. NS 12 months post-SG. While baseline OXT predicted a 12-month BMI change in SG, decreases in OXT levels 12 months post-SG were not associated with decreases in weight or BMI. In SG, decreases in OXT were positively associated with decreases in LM but not with decreases in FM or aBMD. Loss of LM, a strong predictor of BMD, after bariatric surgery may reduce functional and muscular capacity. OXT pathways may be targeted to prevent LM loss following SG.

Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome Among Patients Receiving Antipsychotics: A Retrospective Study.

This study aimed to assess the differential effects of first-generation (FGA) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) on the prevalence of risk factors for metabolic syndrome among mentally ill patients in Qatar. We also wanted to check if there is proper adherence with the guidelines for prescribing antipsychotics and the monitoring of metabolic effects in this population. We collected the available retrospective data (socio-demographic, psychiatric, anthropometric, and metabolic measures) from the records of 439 patients maintained on antipsychotics. The majority were males, married, employed, having a psychotic disorder, and receiving SGA. Patients on SGA showed more obesity, higher BP, and more elevated triglycerides compared to those on FGA. The prevalence of the abnormal metabolic measures was high in this sample, but those on SGA showed a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal body mass index and BP. Obesity and hypertension were common in patients maintained on antipsychotics, especially those on SGA. Polypharmacy was common, and many metabolic measures were not monitored properly in those maintained on antipsychotics. More prospective studies with guided monitoring of the patients' clinical status and metabolic changes are needed to serve better this population of patients.

Changes in pancreatic steatosis by computed tomography 24 months after sleeve gastrectomy in youth with severe obesity.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic steatosis has been associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Studies in adults have demonstrated improvement in pancreatic steatosis following sleeve gastrectomy (SG) with concomitant improvement in glucose homeostasis. OBJECTIVES: To examine changes in pancreatic steatosis in youth with severe obesity 24 months following SG. SETTING: Academic hospital system. METHODS: Forty-seven youth (13-24 years) with severe obesity (37 females) were followed for 24 months; 23 had SG and 24 were nonsurgical (NS) controls. Attenuations of the pancreas and spleen were measured using computed tomography (CT) at baseline, 12- and 24-month follow-up. Subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SAT, VAT), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for body composition, blood sampling for glycated hemoglobin (A1C), and fasting and postprandial insulin and glucose. Linear mixed effects (LMEs) models were used to compare within- and between-group changes over 24 months. RESULTS: At baseline, SG had higher body mass index (BMI) versus NS (P = .033). Over 24 months, significant reductions were noted in weight, BMI, VAT, SAT, fat mass (FM), and lean mass (LM) in the SG versus NS groups (P ≤ .0001). There was a significant 24-month decrease in pancreatic steatosis in the SG group (P = .006). In the whole group, 24-month reductions in pancreatic steatosis correlated with BMI and FM decreases. No associations were found between pancreatic steatosis and glucose homeostasis parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic steatosis measured by CT improved after SG in youth. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between pancreatic steatosis and glucose homeostasis.

Changes in Branched-Chain Amino Acids One Year after Sleeve Gastrectomy in Youth with Obesity and Their Association with Changes in Insulin Resistance.

Adults with obesity have a reduction in branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels following metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), which is hypothesized to contribute to the metabolic advantages of MBS. We examined this relationship in 62 youth 13-24 years old with severe obesity (47 female) over 12 months. Thirty had sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and 32 were non-surgical controls (NS). We measured fasting insulin, glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), isoleucine, leucine, and valine concentrations, and post-prandial insulin and glucose, following a mixed meal tolerance test. Twenty-four-hour food recalls were collected. At baseline, groups did not differ in the intake or the serum levels of BCAAs, HbA1C, HOMA-IR, Matsuda index, insulinogenic index, or oral Disposition index (oDI). Over 12 months, SG vs. NS had greater reductions in serum BCAAs, and SG had significant reductions in BCAA intake. SG vs. NS had greater reductions in HbA1c and HOMA-IR, with increases in the Matsuda index and oDI. In SG, baseline leucine and total BCAA concentrations were negatively correlated with the baseline Matsuda index. Reductions in serum leucine were positively associated with the reductions in HOMA-IR over 12 months. These associations suggest a potential role of BCAA in regulating metabolic health. Reducing dietary intake and serum BCAA concentrations may reduce insulin resistance.

Changes in Hepatic Fat Content by CT 1 Year After Sleeve Gastrectomy in Adolescents and Young Adults With Obesity.

CONTEXT: Obesity is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is an effective means of weight loss and improvement of NAFLD in adults; however, data regarding the efficacy of SG in the early stages of pediatric NAFLD are sparse. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of SG on hepatic fat content 1 year after SG in youth with obesity compared with nonsurgical controls with obesity (NS). DESIGN: A 12-month prospective study in 52 participants (mean age, 18.2 ± .36 years) with obesity, comprising 25 subjects who underwent SG (84% female; median body mass index [BMI], 44.6 [42.1-47.9] kg/m2) and 27 who were NS (70% female; median BMI, 42.2 [38.7-47.0] kg/m2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hepatic fat content by computed tomography (liver/spleen ratio), abdominal fat by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Mean 12-month decrease in BMI was greater in SG vs NS (-12.5 ± .8 vs -.2 ± .5 kg/m2, P < .0001). There was a within-group increase in the liver-to-spleen (L/S) ratio in SG (.13 ± .05, P = .014) but not NS with a trend for a difference between groups (P = .055). All SG participants with an L/S ratio <1.0 (threshold for the diagnosis of NAFLD) before surgery had a ratio of >1.0 a year after surgery, consistent with resolution of NAFLD. Within SG, the 12-month change in L/S ratio was negatively associated with 12-month change in visceral fat (ρ = -.51 P = .016). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic fat content as assessed by noncontrast computed tomography improved after SG over 1 year in youth with obesity with resolution of NAFLD in all subjects. This was associated with decreases in visceral adiposity.

The Neurobiology of Eating Behavior in Obesity: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets: A Report from the 23rd Annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium.

Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. The effectiveness of currently available strategies for the treatment of obesity (including pharmacologic, surgical, and behavioral interventions) is limited. Understanding the neurobiology of appetite and the important drivers of energy intake (EI) can lead to the development of more effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Appetite regulation is complex and is influenced by genetic, social, and environmental factors. It is intricately regulated by a complex interplay of endocrine, gastrointestinal, and neural systems. Hormonal and neural signals generated in response to the energy state of the organism and the quality of food eaten are communicated by paracrine, endocrine, and gastrointestinal signals to the nervous system. The central nervous system integrates homeostatic and hedonic signals to regulate appetite. Although there has been an enormous amount of research over many decades regarding the regulation of EI and body weight, research is only now yielding potentially effective treatment strategies for obesity. The purpose of this article is to summarize the key findings presented in June 2022 at the 23rd annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium entitled "The Neurobiology of Eating Behavior in Obesity: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets." Findings presented at the symposium, sponsored by NIH P30 Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard, enhance our current understanding of appetite biology, including innovative techniques used to assess and systematically manipulate critical hedonic processes, which will shape future research and the development of therapeutics for obesity prevention and treatment.

Patterns of prescription of antipsychotics in Qatar.

OBJECTIVE: Even though all guidelines recommend generally against antipsychotic polypharmacy, antipsychotic polypharmacy appears to be a very common practice across the globe. This study aimed to examine the prescription patterns of antipsychotics in Qatar, in comparison with the international guidelines, and to scrutinize the sociodemographic and clinical features associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy. METHODS: All the medical records of all the inpatients and outpatients treated by antipsychotics at the Department of Psychiatry-Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Doha, Qatar (between October 2012 and April 2014) were retrospectively analyzed. We retrieved the available sociodemographic data, psychiatric features, and details on the medication history. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 537 individuals on antipsychotics (2/3 were male; mean age 33.8±10.2 years), prescribed for a psychotic disorder in 57%, a mood disorder in 9.3%, and various other diagnoses in 33.7%. About 55.9% received one antipsychotic, 29.6% received two antipsychotics, and 14.5% received more than two antipsychotics. Polypharmacy was associated with younger age (p = 0.025), being single (p<0.001), the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (p<0.001), and previous admissions to psychiatry (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotic polypharmacy appears to be quite common in Qatar, as it is the case in many other countries, in contrast with most international recommendations. Studies are needed to explore the reasons behind this disparity.